The Momentum Top 10 of 2009: #1 – You.

I have had the opportunity to chat with and meet in real life some pretty fantastic people in 2009. I started Momentum of Failure on February 26, 2009 as sort of a bookmark list of items I liked or thought looked cool. It has since grown into what it is thanks in large part to my readers/contributors/friends/enemies. I had no expectations of getting free gear or befriending those of which I have.  I look forward to making many more connections and am quite excited for what the future holds for not only me, but for the lot of us. So, to put it simply, thank you all for making 2009 one of the best years of my life. Let’s toast to a bright rest of our lives. Cheers.

- Will / The Momentum of Failure

The Momentum Top 10 of 2009: #3 & #2 – The Hangover Cure / Tactical Bacon & Turkey Jerky

2009 was indeed the year of box wine around my household. I would rather not try to count how many chardonnay-filled cardboard holders I went through, as I am sure it would just make me feel awful. But, other than living my life a quarter mile at a time, I live it, too, with no regrets. Onwards and upwards, I always say. At any rate, some of the mornings after partaking in the glory that comes from a box, saw me couch-ridden, not wanting to move a muscle. This year, though, I was lucky enough to have a few samples of The Hangover Cure sent my direction. While I don’t subscribe to herbal remedies (I like my western medicine, thanks), I put THC to the test and found it actually did the trick. The only snag, now, is that given it is New Year’s Eve, I was lax in requesting a few more vials of the powder to stave off what I am, sure is going to a less-than-pleasant morning tomorrow.

This was also the year of free meat. I have made no secret of my love of a bag of jerky and/or a morning filled with bacony goodness. Yessir, 2009 was quite the year. Thanks to some connections I made via what the kids are calling “Twitter,” I had a few kids swing me a hookup with ThinkGeek, seeing a can of Tactical Bacon show up on my doorstep one day along with a few other bacon-themed items. Nothing at all sounds appetizing about canned bacon, but it was surprisingly not too bad. It tasted like, well, bacon. Unfortunately, the bacon gumballs, too, tasted like the cured meat, which was not so great. I was also fortunate enough to be contacted by the folks at Jerky.com, who in turn hooked me up with a few bags of their turkey jerky, one of which went to a reader via a contest awhile back. Free meat and beating hangovers: 2009, you certainly had some good plans for me, even if I remember only, maybe, half of them.

The Momentum Top 10 of 2009: #4 – The Johnston & Murphy 1850 Messenger Bag

September proved quite fruitful at the old Momentum headquarters, wherever those may be. Let’s call it a 10 foot radius around wherever I am at any given time. Think, Bill McNeal’s smoking area. And if you get that reference, you just became aces in my book. Anyhow, back in the ninth month of 2009, I was contacted by Johnston & Murphy regarding a post I did about their 1850 Messenger Bag. I was at a transitional period, wanting a good bag for the Autumn/Winter months, as I had grown weary of the ones already in my collection. Not expecting really anything to come of it, i was surprised and quite pleased to find they wanted to send me not only the referenced bag but a pair of their Runnell Chukkas as well. It was indeed a big day.

While I haven’t worn the boots as much as I have used the bag, mainly because of the wet weather and not wanting to ruin the suede, they are a welcome addition to the family of shoes that continues to grow. The bag, though, I think I have toted to work everyday upon receiving it. I’ve come to find that, although I really don’t need a bag day in, day out, I feel naked without one. And this one, I can honestly say, and to use a technical term, is the bee’s knees, which is “industry speak” for “the kitten’s mittens.” Consider yourself schooled. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s continuation of the Top of 2009 where I go over the edible spoils of the year.

The Momentum Top 10 of 2009: #5 – Super Wayfarer Sunglasses

It was sometime in 2008 when my older brother actually purchased a pair of Super Sunglasses. So, really, he introduced me to the brand, for which I am ultimately grateful, as I am big fan of their specs. Prior to me ever donning a pair, I was rocking a sleek pair of Ray Bans and was quite happy with them. That was until I cut off all my hair and realized that, shoot, the damn things were too small for my head. Not that I have a large cranium or anything, but when I wore them with my new cut, I looked like my nickname should be “Tiny” and I should be the muscle for some crime sleaze ball with an open silk shirt and slicked back hair. You know the type to which I am referring. And this, in my eyes, would not fly. Enter the barter.

My brother had the right proportioned noggin for the Ray Bans, so we decided, this past Summer, to trade straight-up his Supers for my RB’s. Deal, Howie. Deal. And now, we both look good. Of course, now that my hair has grown back after the worst cut I have received ever in my entire life, I want both pairs. But isn’t that the story of life? Speaking of stories of life, when you go get your haircut and the stylist who calls your name is wearing a baseball cap, leave immediately. Sorry, Floyd’s Barbershop, you lost my business forever. I asked for an Affleck, not a neo-Nazi. I guess, though, you get what you pay for. Jera at Aveda, you my woman now.

The Denver Boot by Ralph Lauren: Designed to keep you moving not keep you put.

If you don’t get the reference to which the title of this post refers, let me offer clarification. You see, here in Denver, and I am sure in other cities (see: when the Simpsons visit NYC), there’s this device called the Denver Boot. Police affix it to vehicles that are illegally parked or those with a plethora of outstanding tickets. It is designed to keep you from going anywhere until you pay off your debt to society, you bum. While this doesn’t stop Homer from doing so, in real life we aren’t as lucky and have to deal with the harsh reality that we owe a good deal of money.

Ralph Lauren thought to name a rugged boot by the same name as the much-despised and revered device. Whether this was on purpose or not, I don’t know. I was absent during that marketing meeting. But one has to wonder if the shoe is as tough as the boot itself. Those things, as annoying as they may be, are tough as nails. Would you rather be wearing footwear designed to kick the hell out of the elements named after a Bath & Body Works scent or this? The answer, then, is obvious. While I am not a huge fan of black boots, myself, there’s something to be said with how tough these look on the surface. Plus, for only $160 for some boots you will most likely have the rest of your life, as black is timeless, it doesn’t seem like a bad deal. I’m just glad they named them the Denver Boot and not the Denver Jockstrap. (Bonus points if you get that reference.)